A low-cost, environment-friendly and solvent-free route for synthesis of AgBr nanoparticles

We report on the synthesis of AgBr nanoparticles average size below 20 nm by from AgNO3 and a thiosemicarbazone ligand, Brcatsc [Brcatsc = 2-bromo-3-phenylpropenalthiosemicarbazone]. Brcatsc was prepared by reacting alpha-bromocinnam-aldehyde and thiosemicarbazide (1:1, molar ratio) in hot ethanol characterized by elemental analyses (CHN), FT-IR, H-1 NMR spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray diffraction. AgBr nanoparticles were prepared by heating the mixture of AgNO3 and Brcatsc at 600 degrees C for 3 h under aerobic condition, and characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The XRD pattern clearly indicates the formation of AgBr nanoparticles while SEM and TEM results reveal their uniformity and purity. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.